Oct 21 2018 — Andrew McDougall — The Conversation — Now that the threat of the NAFTA-pocalypse has lifted for Canada, the Monday morning quarter-backing is well under way on whether the new United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement is better or worse than trade pact that preceded it. But beyond the negative headlines, the USMCA probably leaves Canada stronger than it was going into the negotiations […]
Sep 25 2018 — Daniel Dale — Toronto Star — The Trump administration will continue trade negotiations with Canada even if there is no deal by the U.S.-imposed deadline of this weekend, President Donald Trump’s top trade official said Tuesday. In a largely pessimistic public appearance, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said Canada is “running out of time” to sign on to a trade deal […]
Sep 25 2018 — The Hill — U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Tuesday cast doubt on the prospects of the U.S. and Mexico reaching a deal with Canada on an updated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by the Sunday deadline. “The fact is, Canada is not making concessions in areas where we think they’re essential,” Lighthizer told the Concordia Summit […]
Sep 18 2018 — The Canadian Press — Republicans in the U.S. Congress are ratcheting up pressure on Canada to get a deal done on the North American Free Trade Agreement. House of Representatives majority whip Steve Scalise, who represents the state of Louisiana, delivered a stern warning Tuesday about “growing frustration” in Congress with what he calls Canada’s “negotiating tactics.” In a […]
Sep 12 2018 — Associated Press — Canadian negotiators are travelling to brief Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in person on the state of negotiations with the United States on a deal that would allow Canada to remain in a North American trade bloc. Canada’s envoy — Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland — left a meeting with U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer Tuesday […]
Sep 12 2018 — Politico — One of the world’s most stable partnerships will undergo a historic stress test over the coming days, pulled to the brink by differences involving cheese, court systems and political egos.
Sep 10 2018 — The Canadian Press — Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland will return to Washington on Tuesday to resume negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Freeland and her counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, left the bargaining table Friday without a deal. The two sides have so far been unable to resolve key differences over U.S. access to the […]
Aug 29 2018 — The Canadian Press — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Trump administration Wednesday of setting its sights on dismantling Canada’s supply management system. And he vowed that Canada won’t buckle on the issue at the NAFTA talks. The vexing question of greater U.S. access to the Canada’s protected dairy sector is now pivotal as the NAFTA negotiations in Washington […]
Aug 29 2018 — Montreal Gazette — “Just watch me,” said Quebec Liberal leader Philippe Couillard on Wednesday morning when asked what he would do if Canada decides to allow concessions on its supply-management policies for dairy farmers in trade negotiations with the United States. The incumbent premier was evoking the words of former Liberal prime minister Pierre Trudeau to a journalist […]
Aug 29 2018 — The Canadian Press — Dominic LeBlanc, the new minister responsible for intergovernmental affairs, says the federal government is not anticipating any resistance from provinces in identifying and reducing trade barriers between provinces. LeBlanc says he has met with a number of premiers, but not all, and his sense is that there will not be much pushback to reducing barriers, […]
Aug 29 2018 — Globe and Mail — Ottawa is ready to make concessions to the Trump administration on Canada’s protected dairy market in a bid to save a key NAFTA dispute-settlement system, preserve safeguards for cultural industries and avert tougher pharmaceutical patent protections. It may not be enough, and if Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland fails to reach a deal this week, U.S. […]
Aug 29 2018 — Josh Wingrove — Bloomberg — Until now, pretty much all of Canada had Justin Trudeau’s back in his Nafta fight with U.S. President Donald Trump — but cracks are emerging as some pivot to blame him if the pact falls apart. The U.S. is using a deal it announced with Mexico on Monday to pressure Canada into signing on. That’s […]
Aug 29 2018 — Bruce MacKinnon — National Newswatch —
Aug 29 2018 — Don Pittis — CBC — There are few things better than a hard deadline to concentrate the minds of a group of people trying to make a deal. Debra Steger, part of the Canadian team that hammered out the world’s most most massive and complicated trade deal of all time, the Uruguay Round that resulted in the World Trade Organization, […]
Aug 29 2018 — Peter Clark — iPolitics — Global Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is in Washington hoping to manage the fallout of Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico trade deal. Her negotiating team — along with provincial representatives, farm and manufacturing industry stakeholders — are on the ground and settling in for what are expected to be some intense talks. Also lurking nearby is Trudeau’s righthand […]